The Champion Card Kick-Off Party

First-time fundraiser encourages Houstonians to shop local for a good cause.

Last Thursday, Azuz, the swank women’s boutique in Rice Village, hosted the Champion Card kick-off party. What’s the Champion Card, you say? So glad you asked. Much like another very popular shopping fundraiser (*wink* Holiday Shopping Card), philanthropists (yes, that’s you, shopper!) purchase a card for $40 at one of the participating merchants and get exclusive discounts at a select group of retailers, restaurants, and even some service providers (Botox anyone?). Head here for the full list. The best part is that 100 percent of the proceeds go straight to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Card creator Nina Gutierrez-Garcia was approached by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help fundraise.

“I didn’t hesitate,” she says. “I work in cancer research … and my grandmother passed away from lymphoma, so there was a deep professional and personal connection.” Plus, her mother is the co-owner of Azuz, meaning it made perfect sense for Garcia to pair up fashion and fundraising with the card.

Click through the slideshow to see pics from Thursday’s event, and if you haven’t yet purchased your card, get on it. Discounts are only for this weekend—that’s Thursday, May 15 through Saturday, May 17.